Heady moment

And now for another episode of "Great Minds Think Alike."

The Sun's headline yesterday for the Sports section on Michael Phelps' crowning achievement at the Beijing Games was "8th wonder." A popular choice. Among the others who used the same headline: SI.com, ESPN.com and Yahoo.com.

Elsewhere on the Web:

MSN.com: "The Gr-EIGHT One"

NBCOlympics.com: "Great Eight: Phelps stands alone"

USA Today: "Eight is enough: Phelps clinches Olympic record"

The New York Times: "Phelps's Epic Journey Ends in Perfection"

CBSSports.com: "Crazy 8"

And the Weekly World News: "Olympic swimmer a love child from alien abduction."

More Phelps loveEven in the jaded world of blogging, Phelps has plenty of admirers.

(And that's not even counting the sites that post photos of him with women at parties and speculate how many of them he has, um, shared private moments with.) At NextRound.net, the blog rattles off 10 reasons to like Phelps. Here are some:

•"Phelps isn't some country club [guy] who is better than everyone else at a niche sport because he grew up with an Olympic size pool in his backyard. Phelps' dad worked for the Maryland State Police and his mom is a middle school principal."

•"It's impossible not to discover a newfound respect for the guy after reading his daily eating routine. It's intense. And would be too much for most NFL linemen. The best part is it's not like he eats just a ton of healthy food."

•"Let's face it, the guy's a little goofy. But that's a good thing. We'd all feel weird if he looked like a Calvin Klein model every time he climbed out of the pool."

•"He Hates the French. How excited was he to beat those cocky … frog eaters?"

She's the bossBack in the good, ol' U.S. and A., as Borat once called it, word comes from Los Angeles that one famous Dodgers fan really wants to keep Manny Ramirez beyond this season.

In her blog, actress and ballplayer dater Alyssa Milano proposed that other fans get involved to keep Ramirez in Dodger Blue.

"How about this for an idea on how we can afford Manny next season?

"For every home game remaining, we should pass around a collection basket at the stadium. You know, like the collection baskets at church. We can call it the 'Keep Manny In L.A. Fund.'

"Let's say the Dodgers average 48,000 fans for the remaining 20 home games, and everyone puts $10 into the 'Keep Manny In L.A. Fund.'

"That's $480,000 a game and $9.6 million total. Add that to the $50million in other contracts that will come off the books, and you have $59.6million. That means the McCourts only would have to come up with another $40.4million to reach the $100million contract Manny most likely is seeking. Piece of cake."

Then again, maybe if Ramirez would just see one of the pictures of Milano sporting a wig in homage to his signature - though now incrementally shorter - dreadlocks, he might be ready to sign right now.

(Tips of the Flip to SI.com for the last two items.)

Compiled from wire and Web reports by Mr.Flip, who might consider combining Manny dreads with a Phelps competition swimsuit - though the suit might explode.

Mr. Flip's rant

Shirt required (for some)

The question has been put to Mr.Flip: In the Olympics, why do the female beach volleyball players wear little bikinis while the men wear sleeveless tops and long shorts?

Mr. Flip hadn't really thought about this much while enjoying the athleticism of Misty May-Treanor as the sweat drips down her tanned, toned body and she lightly brushes off the sand that has covered one of her upper thighs. … One moment, please, while Mr.Flip composes himself.

Yes, Mr. Flip supposes some viewers might enjoy seeing the male competitors play shirtless. So maybe the Olympic powers-that-be should mandate such a thing.

But he would hope that doesn't offend those such as Mr.Flip, who watch beach volleyball purely for the skill and tenacity of the athletes.

Mr. Flip's tube tips

Little League World Series6 P.M. [ESPN2]

No dreadlocks here. Then again, no Alyssa Milano.

Home shoppingThe Final Season from Texas Stadium7 P.M. [QVC]

Mr. Flip doesn't know what they're selling exactly, but Roger Staubach is on. And if Roger is selling it, buying it has to be good for America.

MovieConfessions of a Go-Go Girl9 P.M. [LIFETIME]

You know what? Mr.Flip won't even pretend this has some kind of sports connection. But how can you resist that title and plot summary?

"A college grad (Chelsea Hobbs) turns to go-go dancing for some quick cash, but the job soon takes over her life." (Summary from Yahoo.)